Turkey: Country Report | 2024

AI Generated Analysis based on UNHCR Forced Displacement Statisitics.

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Executive Summary

Of course. Here is the ‘Key Trends’ executive summary for the report on Turkey.

Key Trends: A Decade of Displacement, A Window for Solutions

A decade defined by unprecedented displacement has positioned the Republic of Türkiye at the epicenter of a defining humanitarian challenge. In 2024, the country continues to shoulder an immense responsibility, hosting 3.1 million refugees and people of concern. While Syrians still comprise the vast majority of this population, the data reveals a notable shift: a net decrease of nearly 380,000 people, driven primarily by a reduction in Syrians under temporary protection. This trend does not diminish the scale of the crisis, but rather highlights a new phase in a protracted situation. Behind the figures lies a youthful population whose long-term needs for education, protection, and livelihood opportunities demand our sustained commitment.

The pressure on national systems and the uneven nature of global burden-sharing remain critical concerns. Türkiye serves as a nexus for movement, hosting the world’s largest refugee population while also being a country of origin and transit for those seeking safety, primarily in Europe. This concentration of responsibility, both within Türkiye and in a handful of European nations, puts national asylum systems under immense strain. Growing backlogs and inconsistent recognition rates create protracted uncertainty for those seeking protection, reinforcing the urgent need for greater international solidarity, resource allocation, and support for fair and efficient asylum processes.

Amid these enduring challenges, a remarkable and hopeful shift in the pursuit of durable solutions is emerging. After years of limited pathways, we project a dramatic expansion of opportunities, with the number of refugees accessing solutions set to increase more than eightfold in 2024. More profoundly, the number of available resettlement places offered by third countries is forecast to vastly outnumber the refugees in need of them. This growing surplus presents a critical window of opportunity. It is an urgent call to action for the international community to invest in the systems required to connect the most vulnerable with these life-changing chances, turning pledges of support into pathways toward a future of dignity and stability.

Population Overview

Türkiye continues to host one of the world’s largest populations of concern, a testament to its significant role in providing international protection for over a decade. As of 2024, the country was home to 3.1 million refugees, asylum-seekers, and other people of concern to UNHCR. The data reveals that this population is overwhelmingly composed of a single group: refugees and asylum-seekers from the Syrian Arab Republic, who constitute approximately 95 per cent of the total.

While the overall number of displaced persons in Türkiye has remained consistently high and stable for several years, recent data indicates a notable shift. Between 2023 and 2024, the total population of concern registered a net decrease of nearly 380,000 people. This change was primarily driven by a 9.6 per cent reduction in the number of Syrians under temporary protection, which saw a decrease of over 310,000 individuals. Despite this trend, the immense scale of displacement hosted by the country remains a defining feature of its protection landscape.

Behind these stark numbers lies a population with a distinct and youthful demographic profile. The largest cohort consists of working-age adults between 18 and 59 years old, followed by a significant population of children and adolescents under 18. This expansive population structure underscores the critical and long-term needs of displaced communities. It highlights the imperative for sustained investment in education, child protection, and health services. Furthermore, the large working-age population points to the urgent need for expanded livelihood opportunities and economic inclusion initiatives to foster self-reliance and contribute to the host community, thereby ensuring a more durable and dignified future for those displaced.

Demographics

AI Insight: Treemap of populations of concern in Türkiye, where refugees from the Syrian Arab Republic constitute the overwhelming majority of the 3.1 million individuals., This treemap illustrates the breakdown of the 3,095,000 individuals considered populations of concern in Türkiye as of 2024. The size of each rectangle is proportional to the number of people in each category. The visualization clearly shows a highly skewed distribution. The largest category, refugees and asylum-seekers, numbers 2,940,735 individuals, accounting for approximately 95% of the total. This group is predominantly composed of Syrians under temporary protection. The remaining 5% (approximately 154,000 people) is divided among six other much smaller categories, including asylum-seekers from other countries, returned refugees, and stateless persons. The data underscores Türkiye’s role as a major host country, with its population of concern being overwhelmingly defined by a single large refugee group.

AI Insight: Population pyramid of displaced and stateless persons in Türkiye by age and gender, showing a youthful population structure where the 18-59 age group forms the largest cohort., This population pyramid illustrates the age and gender distribution of 27,429,593 refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, and other persons of concern in Türkiye as of 2024. The data is disaggregated into six age cohorts for males and females.

The pyramid displays an expansive shape, with a wide base representing younger age groups and a narrowing top for older age groups. This structure is characteristic of a youthful population with a high dependency ratio.

Key demographic insights: - Overall Structure: The largest single cohort for both genders is the working-age population (18-59), which comprises approximately 25.1% of males and 23.2% of females. The subsequent largest groups are children and adolescents (0-17 years), highlighting a significant youth population. The smallest cohort is the elderly (60+). - Gender Distribution: There is a near-equal distribution between genders, with a slightly higher proportion of males (mean proportion of 8.6% across age groups) compared to females (mean proportion of 8.1% across age groups).

Implications for UNHCR Operations: The demographic profile underscores a critical need for targeted programming. The large youth population requires sustained investment in education, child protection, and health services. The substantial working-age population points to the importance of livelihood support, vocational training, and economic inclusion initiatives to promote self-reliance. While smaller, the elderly population requires specific attention regarding healthcare and social support.

Trends Over Time

AI Insight: Column chart of population types in Türkiye from 2019 to 2024, where the total number of people of concern remained high and stable, consistently dominated by over 3.5 million refugees under international protection., This column chart displays the number of people of concern to UNHCR in Türkiye, broken down by population type, for each year from 2019 to 2024. The vertical y-axis represents the number of people in thousands, and the horizontal x-axis lists the years.

The data reveals that Türkiye consistently hosts one of the largest populations of concern globally during this period. The most significant group by a large margin is ‘Refugees under international protection’, with their numbers remaining relatively stable, fluctuating between approximately 3.5 million and 3.76 million people each year. This category forms the vast majority of the total population shown in the chart.

Other population types are present in much smaller numbers: - Asylum-seekers: This is the second-largest group, though its count is significantly lower than that of refugees, with numbers in the tens to low hundreds of thousands. - Returned Refugees: The data shows a variable number of returned refugees each year, with counts ranging from approximately 18,000 to over 159,000. - Other minor groups: Categories such as ‘Stateless Persons’ and ‘Others of Concern’ are also tracked, but their numbers are minimal in comparison to the refugee and asylum-seeker populations. - Returned IDPs: The data indicates zero returned Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) for the entire 2019-2024 period.

Overall, the chart highlights the sustained large-scale refugee presence in Türkiye, with other populations of concern forming a small fraction of the total.

AI Insight: A bar chart of the changes in six population groups of concern in Türkiye from 2023 to 2024, where five of the six groups decreased in size, with the largest decrease being among Syrian refugees under temporary protection., This vertical bar chart illustrates the absolute and percentage changes in six UNHCR population groups of concern in Türkiye between 2023 and 2024. The data reveals a significant overall decrease in these populations over the period.

Key Observations: - Overall Trend: Five out of the six population categories show a decrease. The total population of concern registered a net decrease of approximately 378,000 people. - Syrian Refugees under Temporary Protection: This group saw the largest absolute reduction, decreasing by 310,392 people. This represents a 9.6% decline from the 2023 figure of 3,251,127. - Other Significant Decreases: Two other groups recorded notable percentage decreases of 15% and 11%, respectively. These likely correspond to ‘Refugees under international protection’ and ‘Asylum-seekers’, indicating a substantial drop in these populations as well. - Minor Increase: The ‘Others of concern’ category was the only one to show an increase, though it was negligible at just 5 individuals.

The horizontal axis categorizes the population groups, while the vertical axis represents the absolute change in the number of people, with a zero line indicating no change. Bars extending below the line signify a decrease. The chart underscores a significant demographic shift, primarily driven by the reduction in the Syrian refugee population, which is the largest group of concern in the country.

AI Insight: Horizontal bar chart of the top 9 countries of origin for refugees in Türkiye in 2024, where the population from one country is overwhelmingly larger than all others., This horizontal bar chart details the number of refugees in Türkiye by their top countries of origin for 2024. The vertical axis lists the countries, while the horizontal axis represents the number of people. The statistical profile shows a highly skewed distribution among the origin countries. The number of refugees from a single country of origin reaches a maximum of 2,901,478, which acts as a significant outlier. This is contrasted by a median value of just 10,071 people and a minimum of 2,354. The large gap between the mean (490,122) and the median confirms that the vast majority of refugees in Türkiye come from one primary country of origin, with the other top countries contributing substantially smaller populations.

Geography & Movements

Geography and Movements: The Central Role of Türkiye

The geography of displacement in 2024 underscores the central and complex role of the Republic of Türkiye, which remains a nexus of movement both as a primary host country and a significant country of origin and transit. The data reveals a dual reality: Türkiye continues to shoulder an immense responsibility by hosting the world’s largest refugee population, while simultaneously, individuals from the region seek protection elsewhere, primarily in Europe.

Behind these stark numbers lies the enduring impact of the Syrian crisis. As of 2024, Türkiye provides protection to over 2.9 million refugees from Syria, a figure that overwhelmingly dwarfs all other refugee populations in the country. Data tracking displacement flows from 2019 to 2025 illustrates the protracted nature of this situation, with the Syrian population consistently constituting the vast majority of forcibly displaced people in Türkiye, far outnumbering smaller but still significant populations from Afghanistan, Iraq, and other nations. This sustained displacement places considerable, long-term pressure on national systems and host communities.

Simultaneously, the data highlights significant onward movements of forcibly displaced people from the country and region. Europe remains the principal destination, though the responsibility for hosting is highly concentrated. Germany stands out as the primary recipient, hosting over 127,800 refugees and other persons of concern originating from Türkiye. While small numbers of people have sought refuge across the globe, the overall distribution is heavily skewed, with a few European nations hosting the majority. This pattern of concentration, both within Türkiye and in key destination countries, underscores the uneven nature of global burden-sharing and the persistent need for international solidarity and solutions.

AI Insight: Choropleth map of destination countries for refugees and other displaced populations from Türkiye, where Germany hosts the largest population by a significant margin., This choropleth map illustrates the global distribution of refugees, asylum-seekers, and other persons of concern originating from Türkiye as of 2024. The data is heavily skewed, indicating a high concentration of displaced persons in a small number of countries.

Of the 241 countries and territories represented, 87 have reported data. The number of individuals per country ranges from a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 127,865. The distribution is characterized by a low median of 58 persons, while the mean is significantly higher at 3,070. This disparity highlights that most host countries shelter a small number of people from Türkiye, while a few host very large populations.

Key findings from the map include: - Primary Destination: Europe is the main destination region, with Germany hosting the highest number of individuals (127,865). - Secondary Destinations: Other significant host countries are also located in Western Europe, though their populations are considerably smaller than Germany’s. - Global Spread: While the concentration is in Europe, small populations are scattered across the globe.

The visualization effectively communicates that while people from Türkiye have sought protection in many countries, the responsibility of hosting is concentrated in a select few, particularly Germany. The 154 countries with no data are uncolored on the map.

Origin of Displaced Populations

AI Insight: Horizontal bar chart of the top countries of origin for refugees in Türkiye in 2024, where the population from Syria vastly outnumbers all other origins., This horizontal bar chart details the number of refugees in Türkiye by their top countries of origin for the year 2024. The data reveals a significant concentration from a single country.

The most striking insight is the extreme disparity in population sizes. One country of origin, Syria, accounts for 2,901,478 refugees, which is the maximum value in the dataset. This figure is orders ofmagnitude larger than that of any other country listed.

In contrast, the other countries of origin have much smaller refugee populations. The median population size among the countries shown is 10,071, and the 75th percentile is only 14,126. The minimum population from a country of origin in this dataset is 2,354. This huge gap is reflected in the statistics: the mean of 490,122 is heavily skewed by the maximum value, while the large standard deviation of 1,181,330 confirms the wide variance. The chart visually represents this with one exceptionally long bar for Syria and several much shorter bars for the other countries.

AI Insight: Alluvial diagram of the origin of forcibly displaced populations in Türkiye from 2019 to 2025, where the Syrian population constitutes the vast majority, significantly outnumbering populations from Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries., This alluvial diagram illustrates the evolution of forcibly displaced populations in Türkiye by country of origin, tracking four distinct groups—Syrians, Afghans, Iraqis, and ‘Others’—from 2019 to 2025. The thickness of the flow for each group corresponds to its population size, measured in thousands.

A statistical analysis of the underlying data reveals a highly skewed distribution. The population sizes range from a minimum of 20,676 to a maximum of 3,737,369. The median population for any group in any given year is 124,056, while the mean is much higher at 898,945. This large difference between the median and mean, along with the extremely high maximum value, indicates that one group is overwhelmingly larger than the others.

Contextually, this reflects the situation in Türkiye, which hosts the world’s largest refugee population. The largest flow, representing over 3.7 million people at its peak, is the Syrian population under temporary protection. The other, much smaller flows represent asylum-seekers and refugees from other countries, primarily Afghanistan and Iraq, whose populations are in the tens to low hundreds of thousands. The chart effectively visualizes the scale of the Syrian crisis relative to other displacement situations affecting Türkiye.

Destination

AI Insight: Column chart of the top 10 destination countries for forcibly displaced people from Türkiye as of 2024, where the top destination hosts a significantly larger population, over 2.2 million, compared to the other nine countries., This column chart presents the top 10 destination countries for people forcibly displaced from Türkiye, based on 2024 data. The visualization highlights a highly skewed distribution of displaced populations among these host nations.

A detailed statistical analysis reveals a significant outlier. While 10 countries are represented, the primary destination hosts 2,229,261 people. In contrast, the population in the other nine countries ranges from a minimum of 67,672 to a maximum near the 75th percentile of 378,728. The median number of displaced people across these 10 countries is 186,202. The mean is significantly higher at 413,916, pulled upwards by the one dominant host country. This large discrepancy between the mean and median, along with a high standard deviation of 652,502, confirms the extreme right-skew of the data, underscoring that one country serves as the primary refuge for this population.

Asylum System

National Asylum Systems Under Pressure

National asylum systems globally continue to face unprecedented pressure, a trend starkly illustrated by the situation in Türkiye, one of the world’s largest refugee-hosting countries. The data reveals a system operating under significant strain, where the number of new applications has consistently outpaced the capacity for processing. Between 2020 and 2024, the gap between the cumulative number of asylum applications lodged and the decisions rendered progressively widened, translating into a growing backlog and, consequently, protracted waiting periods for individuals in need of international protection. This challenge is compounded by a highly volatile operational environment, with the annual caseload fluctuating dramatically in recent years.

Behind these stark numbers lie deeply personal journeys and uncertain futures. An analysis of 679,409 refugee status determination decisions in Türkiye highlights the complexity of the process and the varied outcomes for asylum-seekers. The data for 2024 reveals starkly different outcomes depending on an applicant’s country of origin. For the top 10 nationalities, refugee recognition rates ranged from as low as 2.7 per cent to as high as 94.2 per cent, underscoring how individual circumstances and conditions in countries of origin shape protection needs.

This divergence in protection outcomes is a global phenomenon. A similar pattern is observed for Turkish nationals seeking asylum abroad, where recognition rates in the top ten asylum countries in 2024 varied significantly from 8 per cent to 81 per cent. This disparity highlights the inconsistencies across different national asylum systems and the critical importance of harmonized, principled, and fair asylum procedures. Ultimately, the data underscores the immense operational challenges confronting national asylum systems and reinforces the urgent need for increased resources, capacity building, and international solidarity to ensure that all those seeking safety can have their claims assessed efficiently and fairly.

AI Insight: Bar chart of asylum applications and decisions in Türkiye from 2019 to 2023, where the total number of cases processed annually shows significant fluctuation., This bar chart displays the annual totals for asylum applications and decisions in Türkiye over a five-year period, from 2019 to 2023. The data is broken down into different stages of the asylum process, likely showing separate bars for applications filed and decisions rendered each year.

A statistical analysis of the underlying data reveals considerable volatility. Across all categories and years, the number of cases ranges from a low of 5,445 to a high of 81,070. The average number of cases per category per year is 34,472, with a median of 31,334, suggesting that some years experienced exceptionally high volumes of asylum-related activities. The note that one person may have more than one application indicates these figures represent the operational caseload rather than the number of unique individuals. The chart highlights the dynamic and demanding nature of the asylum system in Türkiye during this period.

AI Insight: Flow diagram of Refugee Status Determination decisions in Türkiye, where the pathways of 679,409 applicants are traced from application through to final outcomes such as refugee status or rejection., This parallel sets plot provides a comprehensive overview of 679,409 Refugee Status Determination (RSD) decisions recorded in Türkiye during 2024. The chart visualizes the flow of asylum cases through distinct stages of the determination process.

The visualization is structured around vertical axes that represent the different stages: initial application, first-instance decision, and final outcome. The colored bands flowing between these axes represent the volume of individuals moving from one status to the next, with the thickness of each band being proportional to the number of cases.

Statistically, the process begins with a total of 679,409 decisions. These cases are channeled into various outcomes at the first-instance level, such as grants of refugee status, subsidiary protection, rejections, or administrative closures. From there, the chart further details the progression to the final decision stage, which includes outcomes of appeal processes. The visualization allows for an analysis of the primary pathways within the RSD system, highlighting, for example, the proportion of cases that are rejected at the first instance versus those that are granted a form of protection, and how many of those initial decisions are altered upon appeal. The data’s numeric profile, with a maximum flow size of 168,602 and a median of 19,600, indicates that a few key pathways account for the majority of decisions.

AI Insight: Area chart of cumulative asylum applications versus decisions in Türkiye from 2020 to 2024, where the gap between applications received and decisions made has widened, indicating a growing backlog., This area chart illustrates the trend of cumulative asylum applications and first-instance decisions in Türkiye for the period 2020 to 2024. The y-axis represents the cumulative total, while the x-axis implicitly represents time across these years. Two distinct areas are plotted: the top line represents the total number of asylum applications registered, and the bottom line represents the total number of decisions made. The vertical gap between these two lines visually represents the number of pending cases (the backlog) at any given point. The analysis shows that while both cumulative applications and decisions have increased over the years, the rate of applications has consistently outpaced the rate of decisions. This has resulted in a progressively widening gap, signifying a substantial increase in the asylum case backlog. The visualization is annotated to highlight this gap, which translates into longer average processing times for asylum seekers awaiting a decision on their case as of 2024.

Recognition Rates

AI Insight: Bar chart of Refugee Recognition Rates by Country of Origin in Türkiye for 2024, where the rate varies significantly among the top 10 countries, from as low as 2.7% to as high as 94.2%., This horizontal bar chart displays the Refugee Recognition Rate in Türkiye during 2024 for the top 10 countries of origin. The countries are ordered vertically from top to bottom based on the total number of asylum decisions made, not by the recognition rate itself.

Each bar’s length represents the percentage of positive decisions (recognized as refugees) out of the total decisions for that nationality. The analysis of the underlying data for these 10 countries shows a wide disparity in outcomes. The recognition rates range from a minimum of 2.7% to a maximum of 94.2%. The median recognition rate is 40.6%, with an average of 41.0%. Half of the countries shown have a recognition rate falling between 19.5% and 54.8%.

Notably, the rate for ‘Complementary Protection’ is 0% for all countries in this dataset, meaning the ‘Refugee Recognition Rate’ is synonymous with the ‘Total Recognition Rate’. The ordering by total decisions, which range from 1,317 to 298,926 per country, highlights the nationalities with the highest caseloads rather than the highest protection needs as determined by the recognition rate.

AI Insight: A column chart of Refugee Recognition Rates for Turkish nationals in 2024 across the top 10 asylum countries, where the rates vary widely from 8% to 81%., This column chart displays the 2024 Refugee Recognition Rates for nationals from Türkiye in the ten countries of asylum with the highest number of total decisions. The data reveals a significant disparity in outcomes for Turkish asylum seekers depending on the country where they apply.

The recognition rates range dramatically from a low of 7.5% to a high of 81.0%. The average (mean) recognition rate across these ten countries is 23.9%, while the median rate is considerably lower at 14.4%. This difference indicates that most of these top ten countries have recognition rates below the average, with a few countries granting protection at a much higher rate, skewing the mean upwards.

The chart is ordered by the total number of decisions processed, which itself varies greatly from 17,244 in the country with the tenth-most decisions to 316,285 in the country with the most. It is important to note that a high volume of decisions does not necessarily correlate with a high recognition rate. When including complementary forms of protection, the Total Recognition Rate averages 28.4%, slightly higher but still showing a similar pattern of wide variation.

Solutions

The pursuit of durable solutions remains a cornerstone of international protection, offering pathways to stability and the chance to rebuild lives for the forcibly displaced. While such solutions remain elusive for millions globally, the landscape in Türkiye, a key host country, reveals a significant and evolving dynamic with a potentially hopeful outlook.

The data on achieved solutions in recent years reflects considerable volatility. Between 2019 and 2023, the number of forcibly displaced people in Türkiye who found a durable solution fluctuated, dropping to a five-year low of just 4,966 in 2023. Behind these numbers, however, a dramatic shift is anticipated. Projections indicate a substantial planned expansion of solution programmes, with the number of people expected to benefit projected to surge to 39,860 in 2024. This constitutes a more than eightfold increase from the previous year and is set to rise further to 55,976 in 2025, signalling a renewed momentum in creating lasting outcomes.

A deeper analysis reveals an even more profound story of opportunity. When comparing the number of available solution pathways—such as resettlement places offered by third countries—with the number of individuals formally recognized as refugees in Türkiye, a consistent surplus emerges. This gap between available opportunities and recognitions is projected to widen into a vast expanse. The number of available solutions is forecast to reach an unprecedented 159,439 in 2024 and grow to 223,903 by 2025. This significant and widening surplus underscores a substantial commitment from international partners to expand pathways to safety. It presents a critical window of opportunity, highlighting the imperative to strengthen systems that can effectively identify and process vulnerable refugees to connect them with these life-changing chances.

AI Insight: Column chart of durable solutions for forcibly displaced people in Türkiye from 2019 to 2025, where a dramatic projected increase in solutions is shown for 2024 and 2025., This column chart displays the annual number of durable solutions for forcibly displaced people in Türkiye. The data covers historical trends from 2019 to 2023 and projections for 2024 and 2025.

From 2019 to 2023, the number of solutions showed significant volatility. The values were: 8,576 in 2019; 4,539 in 2020; 5,569 in 2021; 11,238 in 2022; and 4,966 in 2023.

A substantial increase is projected for the subsequent years. The number of solutions is expected to surge to 39,860 in 2024, a more than eightfold increase from the 2023 level. This trend is projected to continue, with the number of solutions reaching 55,976 in 2025. This sharp upward trend indicates a significant planned expansion of durable solution programs, such as resettlement or integration, for displaced populations in Türkiye.

AI Insight: A line and ribbon chart of refugee recognitions versus available solutions in Türkiye from 2019 to 2025, where the number of solutions consistently surpasses recognitions, and the gap between them is projected to increase substantially., This chart presents a comparative analysis of refugee recognitions and available durable solutions in Türkiye from 2019 to 2025. The x-axis represents the year, and the y-axis shows the number of individuals. A blue line tracks refugee recognitions, while a teal line represents solutions, with the shaded area between them highlighting the disparity.

Statistical Breakdown: - Refugee Recognitions: The number of recognitions began at 5,445 in 2019, increased to 8,753 in 2020, and peaked at 13,227 in 2021. Subsequently, it declined to 12,857 in 2022 and 9,966 in 2023. Data for 2024 and 2025 is not available. - Available Solutions: The number of solutions started at 34,303 in 2019, dropped to its lowest point at 18,155 in 2020, and then fluctuated, reaching 44,953 in 2022 before falling to 19,865 in 2023. There is a dramatic projected increase to 159,439 in 2024 and 223,903 in 2025.

Key Insight: The number of available solutions has consistently exceeded the number of refugee recognitions throughout the observed period. The gap between the two metrics is most pronounced in the projections for 2024 and 2025, indicating a significant and widening surplus of available solutions compared to the number of individuals being granted refugee status.